Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body or cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by the liver removing impurities from the blood, where toxins are processed for elimination. By giving your body nutrients found in natural, healthy (they’re called healthy for a reason) foods, you can help your liver out by giving it what it needs, and help your other organs clean themselves and flush the toxins out of your body.

Once you begin a detox diet, you will start feeling better all over, you will have more energy, your skin will clear up, your digestion will be normal, and your mind will be sharper among many, many other things. You might even notice some medical conditions caused by diet clearing up (you’d be surprised to know just how much your diet affects you).

When starting a detox, if these foods are not a big part of your normal diet, then work them in gradually to avoid feeling a little worse before you feel better, as your body would have a chance to acclimate to all the changes taking place in it. Make sure to drink lots of water to flush the toxins out as they are removed from your tissues by the enzymes and vitamins in the detox foods. It is recommended that you stick to a regimen of mainly fruits and vegetables. If you are having a hard time staying away from meat, fish and lean chicken in small amounts are ideal choices. Stay away from processed foods and sugar completely, and no alcohol…unless it is one glass of red wine a day.

Below is a list of the top ten foods or food groups that are essential to a successful detoxification.